Creamy Broad Bean Fava Pasta Recipes

HERBED FAVA BEANS WITH PASTA

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with ice water. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fava beans and cook 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to the ice water; let cool about 5 minutes (keep the pot of water boiling). Drain the beans, then peel off their skins (they should slip right off). Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook as the label directs. Reserve about 1 1/2 cups cooking water, then drain the pasta.
• Heat the olive oil, garlic, mint sprigs, parsley sprigs and all but 2 tablespoons of the scallions in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until the scallions are soft, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the favas and 1 cup of the reserved cooking water. Bring to a simmer and cook until the favas are tender and the liquid is slightly reduced, 8 to 10 minutes; discard the garlic and herb sprigs.
• Add the pasta to the skillet and cook, tossing until it absorbs some of the sauce, about 3 minutes. Stir in the butter, chopped mint and parsley, reserved scallions, and salt and pepper to taste. Add more cooking water to loosen, if needed. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Tip: If you can't find fresh fava beans, use frozen shelled and skinned ones and blanch as directed.

PASTA WITH FAVA BEANS AND LEMON SAUCE

Steps:

• Shell fava beans and cook in a medium pot of boiling salted water 2 minutes.
• Drain and immediately plunge into a large bowl of ice water.
• Peel off outer skins of beans---there is a dark green, thick ridge on the rounded side of the bean-starting there, pinch the skin and pull it open, once the skin opens a bit you can squeeze the bottom and the bean slips out into your bowl.
• Cook pasta in boiling salted water according to package directions until al dente (you definitely don't want to overcook the pasta for this dish).
• Reserve a half cup of the water the pasta has cooked in and drain pasta in colander, you don't have to worry about excess water in the "little ears" as it will help tie the pasta sauce together.
• Return pot to medium heat, add butter and garlic, cook until garlic is soft.
• Add half-and-half, heat one minute.
• Stir in lemon juice, zest and pepper.
• Add pasta and cheese, stirring until pasta is coated and cheese is melted.
• Add favas and toss, adding a few tablespoons of reserved pasta water if pasta seems dry (the starch from the cooking water will help make the sauce creamy, it shouldn't seem sticky).
• Serve immediately in warm bowls, garnishing with mint if desired.

CREAMY BUTTER BEAN PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add shells and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, 7 to 9 minutes. Drain, reserving a cup of cooking water.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add leek and cook until soft, 3 to 5 minutes; do not brown. Add broccoli and 1/4 cup vegetable broth. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until tender, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine butter beans, remaining vegetable broth, remaining olive oil, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a blender. Process until sauce is smooth.
• Add cooked pasta and sauce to the skillet with the broccoli; toss to coat. Add reserved cooking water, a few tablespoons at a time, if the sauce appears too dry. Evenly divide among 4 bowls and top with nuts.

CREAMY BROAD BEAN (FAVA) PASTA

Steps:

• Boil the broad beans for about 10 minutes. Then plunge in cold water and take the beans out of their skins.
• Put the pasta on to boil, for about 8 minutes (until al dente). I skin the beans while I'm boiling the pasta.
• Melt the butter and olive in a large pan or wok, saute the onions until soft and starting to brown.
• Add the pasta and beans to the pan and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the cream, bring to the boil.
• Add parsley, nutmeg, season generously with salt and pepper.